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   1. Chilling, hops and hot break

      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Chilling

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      I currently use a converted keg as my boil kettle. I have a dip tube set to pull off the side.
      I only use pellet hops and use a paint strainer bag for them. I squeeze the heck out of it at the end.
      I never whirlpool and chill through a plate chiller.
      
      I want to buy this kettle
      It has a nifty pickup type and attached trub dam. (This is very similar to a local brewing companies professional setup.)
      
      I want to get away from using a hop bag as I feel the more free floating they are, the more I...

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      I will pass that hat tip on to Bundy who posted the link originally! :salute:
      
      Also, If you are concerned with the hops not having enough contact with the wort, its been suggested here to use your BIAB bag, as this should allow full contact. I always plan on doing it but never seem to get the grist cleaned out of it in time for the boil... :sneak:
      6 Replies
      14741 Views
      goulaigan
      11 years ago
   2. BIABacus conversion to 10 gallon batch

      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      Maybe I have overlooked it, or just not input the correct search terms, but how do you do a 10 gallon batch with BIAB and BIABacus? I am using a 15.5 gal converted keg as my kettle.
      I grabbed the BIABacus that was put out in another thread by PP since I know it will have integrity.
      
      Obviously Section B I would need to increase VIF. If I use 37.85L there, this increases my water volume to 14.77gal
      Once I add my grain, Im way over my kettle volume. I think I would use section W to adjust. I just...

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      Thank you both for the helpful knowledge, I am understanding how this all works... I think ! :headhit:
      I plan on converting a recipe I have made a few times as a 5 gal batch over to a near 10 gallon this weekend
      I hope all goes well! Wish me luck!
      :luck:
      5 Replies
      7730 Views
      blancasterb
      11 years ago
   3. Help filling out BIABACUS properly

      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      Looking for some advice here.
      Seems just when I think I know how to fill out BIABACUS, I do something wrong.
      Was hoping a super experianced user would mind filling out BIABACUS for me using
      the below recipe.
      I of course will be using all grain (I left the extract info in there for those who may want to do it that way)
      
      Misc Info on my setup
      
      Section B
      Kettle Diameter 39.2 cm
      Kettle Height 42.4 cm
      
      Section X
      Kettle Shape Volume Adjustment 4.30 Liters
      
      I appreciate all the help!!
      
      Brandon...

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      Great answer nosco :salute:,
      
      This is an advanced area and one we don't have to worry about too much in the early days. Several things affect attenuation (how much fermentable sugar gets produced in the mash/sparge and then eaten by the yeast) and one of these is mash temperature. So, if you want to brew a Budweiser, if you were doing a single infusion mash, as nosco said you'd aim for a low mash temp of 62 C (143.6F). A stout you might wish to mash at 70C. THese are the two extremes of the...
      7 Replies
      10420 Views
      PistolPatch
      11 years ago
   4. pH strips - usage?

      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      In this post PistolPatch commented on using pH test strips
      Specifically finding this type on Amazon pH Duotest Analytical Indicator Paper Dispenser Roll of 5 Meters 3.5-6.8
      (If anyone orders these make sure you click the Amazon banner at the top of the page to support BIABrew.info)
      
      Anyways, I ordered these strips and they came in the mail the other day.
      I am just not sure how/when to use them. Obviously you put them in water, but when do you test?
      before the mash? during the mash, after the...

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      What PP say and I'd like to add that your mash pH is the only thing initially to consider, please note I didn't say worry about :)
      
      Take a sample after about 15 minutes let it cool and take a reading. It should be between about 5.4 and 5.6 at about 20c
      
      If after taking notes on about 4 or 5 brews the pH is consistently high we can give you some practical steps to take.
      
      I have pretty terrible water so I mix RO water/Town water and balance with salts but Town water on its own still makes good...
      3 Replies
      5945 Views
      chiller
      11 years ago
   5. Did not hit target OG, why?

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      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      I attempted to make a clone of Double Crooked Tree IPA - Dark Horse Brewing Company.
      My target OG was 1.130. I only made it to 1.110 OG. I did a 90 minute mash and a 90 min boil. If I would have boiled it any longer I would have passed my target VIF.
      Can someone look at my recipe and tell me what I could have done different.
      I try to stir the mash about every 15 - 20 min and add heat as needed.
      
      Thanks for any thought and/or advice!!
      Brandon

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      PistolPatch and Rick, if you both have a moment can you head over to the integrity thread and review my Irish Red Recipe please :peace:
      Brandon
      25 Replies
      25834 Views
      blancasterb
      11 years ago
   6. Adding honey to BIABacus

      by blancasterb, 11 years ago in Intermediate Brewing

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      If I am going to add honey to a recipe, how do I input it in BIABacus?
      I suppose section F, however this will not consider the fermentation and end ABV .
      How can I input honey into the spreadsheet so that it will consider that in the final ABV.
      Or does it even matter?
      Brandon

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      I just made the answer up Brandon. Don't worry, just joking :).
      
      This is a really good question and I'm having a little difficulty in answering it.
      
      Using another Brewing Program
      
      Because I have BeerSmith, I often just use that for things like this. In BeerSmith, it said honey had a Potential of 1.035 or a Yield of 75%. BeerSmith has some real problems though when it comes to moisture content (see end of post) so I then just googled moisture content of honey and 20% came up as a reasonable...
      11 Replies
      13574 Views
      PistolPatch
      11 years ago
   7. BIABacus to Beersmith 2 Equipment Profile Conversion

      by blancasterb, 12 years ago in BIABrewer.info and BIAB for New Members

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      I want to be able to use both BIABacus and Beersmith 2
      I am new to BIAB and had already paid for Beersmith 2 before I found this site so I dont want to not use it.
      I am having a hard time creating my equipment profile on Beersmith, this has been a problem since I bought it.
      I have a 15.5 gal keggle that Im using.
      One of the nice guys on this board helped me get BIABacus set for my keggle.
      Im trying to convert that over to Beersmith, but its not working. It seems that my total water volume is a...

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      Just like Bob says, keep the beer at fermentation temperature for at least 3 weeks. If you are bottling, you can do that at the end of the 3rd week.
      17 Replies
      14782 Views
      Mad_Scientist
      12 years ago

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